Postman Barry puts his Stamp on the Mournes

On the same weekend that Down were sucker punched in Derry, a  Scotsman won Wimbledon and Dan Martin became the first Irishman since his uncle Stephen Roche to win a stage of the Tour De France, local postman Barry Convery blasted his way around the south Down coastline and majestic Mourne mountains to become the fourth winner of the Olympic distance Top Of The Mourne Triathlon writes Brendan Monaghan.

Convery is a man in form after his recent win in the Causeway Coast Triathlon and showed he meant business as he ploughed his way through all 3 disciplines on one of the most spectacular courses in Ireland in a combined time of 2.18.36. First lady home in a time of 2.41.55  was  Scottish girl Christina MacKenzie who is a member of the Portmarnock club in Dublin.

Team winners were the Well Fit Café team of Conor Fabb  first man out of Carlingford lough(20.41) Peter McConville who punctured and had to complete the last kilometre  of the bike ride on foot (1.15.34) and Dermot Mathers  posting  a fantastic time of (36.53) for ta 10k run around the rolling hills of Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor.

Race organisers Newry Triathlon Club and Event Directors Peter Quinn and Catherine Murphy are beginning to establish yet another top class Triathlon event for the Newry and Mourne area with a real family atmosphere in evidence on a very hot day at the Kilbroney Park venue.

Although not yet on a par with the clubs flagship event in Camlough surely with the dedication and commitment the NTC put into  organising and promotion of their events and the breathtaking course which takes in Carlingford Lough, the Mountains of Mourne and the hugely popular Kilbroney Park it’s only a matter of time that The Top Of The Mourne Triathlon will be talked about all over the Island of Ireland and beyond.

This year’s event had well over 100 competitors and was well organised throughout with numerous safety boats in the water and marshals covering the south Down roads both on foot and motorbike with the transition and finish area in Kilbroney is the perfect setting for the large crowds who are starting to grow as the years go by, credit indeed to the Newry Triathlon Club,their members and friends.